International Friendlies
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Played
August 11, 2010 7:45 PM BST
Aviva Stadium, Dublín
Referee:‬ Peter Rasmussen (Din)‎
 
 
Ángel Di María 19′

International Friendly Preview: Republic Of Ireland - Argentina

World Cup quarter-finalists pay visit to new stadium...

By Peter Staunton

More On :  Argentina, Ireland, Ireland vs Argentina
Aviva Stadium 02
Kick-off: Wednesday 11 August 20:45 CET,
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Keane To Impress

Some of the build-up to this interesting tie has been centred around the ill-health of Giovanni Trapattoni, the Ireland trainer who has been hospitalised with severe food poisoning.
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However, the Argentina clash represents a landmark for one of Ireland's greatest ever servants.

Robbie Keane will lead the Republic of Ireland out for the first time at the new Aviva Stadium in Dublin tonight and the occasion will mark the 100th cap for the Irish skipper.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker will be accompanied by his 15-month old son, Robbie Jr, for the pre-match pleasantries, but then it will be down to the serious business.

The Irish squad under Trapattoni does not take friendly fixtures lightly, and indeed were it not for injuries to certain starters, the Boys in Green would line out for this pre-season tune-up with the same side that competed gallantly against France in the World Cup play-offs in November.

The Irish insistence to place equal emphasis on every outing has yielded a definitive 'system', with which Trapattoni is happy, and no more is the desire typified than in the skipper.

Keane takes his leadership duties seriously and is a good bet to end his career as the nation's all-time top scorer and record caps holder. He has rarely pulled out of friendly matches, sometimes to the chagrin of his club managers.

The 30-year-old's form for Tottenham ahead of the Premier League season has been sound, although his club future seems to be, as yet, unresolved. It is one of the great anomalies of the game that Keane has been so consistent and settled at international level but remains somewhat flighty in his club career.

He could be on the move again this summer, to his eighth club, but you should not expect that sort of disruption to affect his number one love.

A Fresh Start

Sergio Batista may only have been yielded temporary control of the Argentina team but the Olympic coach has already attempted to engineer a subtle overhaul of the Albiceleste team that Diego Maradona took to the World Cup and promised a 'brand new era' for Argentinian football. Consequently, Fernando Gago and Ever Banega, two South Africa absentees have been handed chances to impress tonight.

The 1986 World Cup winner admits that it is futile to go over old ground after a disappointing World Cup exit. He told the press in Dublin: “I don't want to look back, I am here to look forward. We’re starting a brand new era. Up to now the lads have made it very easy for me. It’s a new start. They’ve all come here to play for the shirt and to do well.”

It is a testing time for any manager but even more so considering the stature of the man Batista has replaced.

The exit of el Dieguito has been met with mixed reactions. Carlos Tevez accused the AFA president Julio Grondona of 'betrayal' over the affair and intends to speak with him face to face. However, the Manchester City forward, out of the game with a sore throat, admits that his team-mates will rally around the new coach and play for the shirt.

Lionel Messi is expected to take part after a whistle-stop Asian tour; at one press conference in Korea, the Barcelona forward even lost track of which country he was visiting. And the redoubtable attacker's positivity has been praised by his new international coach. Batista said: “I am happy that he [Messi] arrived here with a positive attitude. He arrived with a smile on his face and considering he’s come from halfway around the world, from Beijing via Barcelona, it would have been easy for Lionel to say ‘I can’t be bothered. It’s an awkward time.’ That says a lot about his character.”

Team News

Republic of Ireland

It is perhaps a surprise that Paul Green has been included at the expense of Darron Gibson in the enforced absence of Glenn Whelan but Marco Tardelli has assured that the Manchester United midfielder will feature at some stage. A late injury to Liam Lawrence will hand Keith Fahey, of Birmingham City, a starting berth. Kevin Doyle may yet be replaced by Cillian Sheridan.

Starting XI: Given; McShane, Dunne, O'Shea, Kilbane; Andrews, Green, Fahey, Duff; Keane, Doyle

Argentina

The manager has included some new blood in the ranks and will line up with a 4-1-4-1 system, according to reports. Gago and Banega will be fielded alongside Javier Mascherano in the centre of the pitch. Elsewhere, Tevez and Sergio 'Kun' Aguero miss out due to illness. Gonzalo Higuain retains the number nine shirt.
 
Starting XI: Romero; Burdisso, Demichelis, Samuel, Heinze; Mascherano; Gago, Banega, Messi, Di Maria; Higuain

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Ireland 0-2 Argentina
    15.14 %
  • Ireland 0-3 Argentina
    13.78 %
  • Ireland 1-3 Argentina
    13.78 %
Head to Head
International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Aug 11, 2010 Ireland 0 - Argentina 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
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Last Five Matches
Ireland
Mar 26, 2013Ireland 2 - Austria 2WCQ
Mar 22, 2013Sweden 0 - Ireland 0WCQ
Feb 6, 2013Ireland 2 - Poland 0FR
Nov 14, 2012Ireland 0 - Greece 1FR
Oct 16, 2012Faroe Islands 1 - Ireland 4WCQ
Argentina
Mar 26, 2013Bolivia 1 - Argentina 1WCQ
Mar 23, 2013Argentina 3 - Venezuela 0WCQ
Feb 6, 2013Sweden 2 - Argentina 3FR
Nov 22, 2012Argentina 2 - Brazil 1FR
Nov 14, 2012Saudi Arabia 0 - Argentina 0FR
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
-Shay Given
4John O'SheaDefender
-Paul McShane
-Richard Dunne
21Paul GreenMidfielder
-Keith Andrews
-Damien Duff
-Keith Fahey
-Kevin Kilbane
10Robbie KeaneStriker
-Cillian Sheridan
-Joe Murphy
16Keiren WestwoodGoalkeeper
18Darren O'DeaDefender
12Stephen KellyDefender
-Kevin Foley
-Greg CunninghamDefender
-Anthony Stokes
21Andy KeoghMidfielder
-Darron Gibson
-Keith Treacy
1Sergio RomeroGoalkeeper
-Martín Demichelis
-Nicolas Andres Burdisso
-G. Heinze
-Walter Adrian Samuel
-Ever BanegaMidfielder
14Javier MascheranoMidfielder
7Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
5Fernando GagoMidfielder
10Lionel MessiStriker
9Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
12Mariano Gonzalo AndújarGoalkeeper
-Maxi RodríguezMidfielder
-Jesús Dátolo
-Mario Bolatti
-Javier Pastore
-Carlos Tévez
16Sergio AgüeroStriker
4Pablo ZabaletaDefender
-Diego Alberto Milito
21Ezequiel LavezziStriker
-Emiliano Insúa
-Jonas Gutierrez
-Fabricio ColocciniDefender
Players to Watch
Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
It will 100 caps for Robbie Keane tonight and the Spurs forward has an impressive 43 goals to his name too. This game will provide Irish fans a chance to pay homage to the striker who has scored some vital strikes for his nation.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
1 0 0 0
Irish fans will be offered an close-up glimpse of, arguably, the best footballer since Maradona. After a gruelling season for Barcelona, a World Cup campaign that ran deep and a hectic pre-season that took him to the four corners of the globe, perhaps 'el Messias' will feature as no more than a cameo tonight.
Results
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Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra
Midfielder
Al Faisaly Amman 		4 1
Andreas Cornelius Andreas Cornelius
Striker
Copenhagen 		4 1
Mikael Forssell Mikael Forssell
Striker
HJK Helsinki 		3 1
Fred Fred
Striker
Fluminense 		3 0
Felipe Caicedo Felipe Caicedo
Striker
Lokomotiv 		3 0